Catch (Coronado Series Book 4)

by Lea Hart

  She stopped walking and stared up at him. “I think the last drink I had was one too many. Would you be terribly disappointed if we had old-fashioned, boring sex?”

  He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Any time our two bodies are joined, it is anything but boring. In fact, it blows my mind and breaks me open in a way that I didn’t think was possible. We are more than two bodies enjoying a physical release. We are two souls that join together. And we don’t have sex. We make love…we make us. I don’t care how we do it, where we do it. I just care that our two bodies are joined together just like our hearts. Can’t you feel it, Rachel? We are becoming more together than apart. Hell, we already are more together.”

  “Mr. Ellis, I think you’ve caught my heart.”

  “I told you that I would catch you.”

  “I hope this evening includes birthday cake.”

  “It definitely includes birthday cake. Let’s go home, and we can sit on the sand and blow out your candles.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  The next morning, Chris watched Rachel sit up on the bed. “Swing your leg over and face the other way.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, honey. This is how it works.”

  She stared at him suspiciously and followed his directions. He waited for the love of his life to swing her leg over and mount him like she was getting on a horse. She had an amazing ass, and he was enjoying the view as she slid down on him. He let out a hiss as she wiggled around and got herself situated.

  She heard him hiss and stopped moving around. “Am I hurting you? Is this working?”

  “All good from here. How are you doing?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Honey, those are words that should never be used when I’m buried in you. I definitely need you to use a better adjective.”

  She planted her arms on his quads and moved herself up and down. “That’s feels good, but it’s weird. I’m not looking at you, and I’m thinking too much.”

  He lifted her off and flipped her over. “You should not be able to think when we are with each other. You usually lose the power of speech the moment I get inside you. What’s going on?”

  “I like seeing you. You’re the most handsome man in the world to me, and your face is part of what turns me on. The way you stare at me drives me wild. I see your desire, heat, and need, and it sets mine on fire. Your want of me makes my want of you okay. It doesn’t feel like too much.” She ran her fingers slowly down his face as her heart exploded at the tenderness in his eyes.

  “Honey, I’m just a beat-up sailor. I have no idea how my face makes you feel all of those things.”

  “You feel like home to me, and I like to see you.”

  He rolled over on top of her and nudged her legs apart with his. Between her hips felt like the best place on earth. He smiled down at her and entered her and watched her face light up with pleasure. “I guess my cowgirl likes to look at her cowboy while he does this…”

  “Yes, please.” Her back bowed off the bed in response to what his body was doing to hers. They began to move in a dance that was meant only for them. On a sigh of surrender, Rachel Miller allowed her desire to unfurl as she embraced Chris Ellis. She shuddered as pleasure rolled through her. It was like being on top of a wave, and soon Chris joined her as he shouted her name.

  “That was better than fine. It was mind-blowing.”

  “Good answer.” He collapsed on top of her as his lungs filled with air.

  “Were you ever a cowboy?”

  He lifted his head and stared at her. “No, I’ve never been a cowboy.”

  “I think we should take that one off our list.”

  “Probably a good idea. What did you decide about sex in public places?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I don’t think I have the right instincts for it. But I’m not ready to give up. We should try it again and see how it goes.”

  He laughed and rolled off. “Sounds good to me.”

  “You’re very agreeable about all of this.”

  “It’s easy to be. We’re talking about something that I pretty much want to do with you anytime you’ll let me.”

  “You may not be in decline after all. Even at your advanced age.”

  He started tickling her, and she laughed and screamed as she tried to get away from him. “I’m glad you’re willing to have relations with someone who so clearly is over the hill.” He leaned down and kissed her and then scooped her up and put her over his shoulder. Holding on to her behind, he carried her outside and dumped her in the pool. He stood on the side of the pool with his arms crossed over his chest and smiled as she surfaced. She appeared a little mad and was sputtering water out as she was trying to let him have it. He dove over her head and swam to the other side of the pool in one breath. “If you want to get back at me, then you’re going to have to catch me.”

  “Not fair, Chris. How am I ever going to catch a SEAL in a pool?”

  “Use your imagination.”

  She pushed the hair off her face and smiled at him serenely. She swam to the steps and took her sweet time as she stepped out of the pool. The woman of his dreams emerged bare-ass naked from the pool. She had a world-class ass, and she was using it to her advantage.

  “I think I’ll take a swim in the ocean. There shouldn’t be anyone out there this time of morning.” She moved slowly to the gate that separated the house from the public beach.

  There was no way. She wouldn’t do it. Yet there she went. She was going to chicken out at any minute. Leaning forward, he watched her unlatch the gate and take a step out onto the beach. He was out of the pool in a flash and through the gate before she made it much past the berm. His feet hit the sand at a dead run, he scooped her up, and cradled her against his body. No one was getting a free show. She was his and his alone.

  She smiled up at him sweetly. “I guess I did catch you.”

  “I guess you did. You said you wanted naked Hawaii, and you were serious.”

  “I always mean what I say.”

  “Me, too. Are you ready for breakfast?”

  “Yes, please. I seem to have worked up an appetite this morning.”

  “I’d better feed you. Then I can have my way with you again. I’m going to take a little time and explore all of the nooks and crevices that I missed this morning.”

  Leaning her head against his chest, she sighed. “That’s a good idea.”

  He opened the gate and walked in. “No more naked beach time, honey. You are all mine.”

  She laughed and kissed his chest. “Is that an order?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “How come that sounds so sexy when you say it?”

  “I have no idea. I have a lot more orders for you if that turns you on.”

  “Just the one order is fine.”

  He kissed her and let her slip down his body, and he was ready to go again.

  She looked at him and smiled. “You’re definitely not past your prime.” She took his hand and led him over to the shower. “I’ll let you give me an order or two in the shower.”

  He growled and followed her. He loved naked Hawaii.

  ***

  Later that day, Rachel stood in the surf and watched Chris come closer. “Was I surfing? It was amazing. Let’s do it again.”

  He picked up the board and turned around toward the break. “Lie down, baby. I’ll take us out again.”

  She lay down on the board as he leaned over, and he started paddling them. “Surfing sounds like sex. I swear you said the same thing to me this morning.”

  Laughing, he couldn’t respond right away. “I like the way your mind keeps winding around to that.”

  Rachel lay on the big foam board with the sun on her face, the warm spray hitting her body, and her man at her back. There probably hadn’t been a better moment in her life. That was until he stood and pushed her into the wave, and she screamed and laughed all the way to the shore. She dragged the board out of the water and stood smili
ng at Chris as he made his way to her. “You look like Poseidon coming out of the water. The Olympian king from the sea.”

  “I like how your mind works. Most people would see a man walking out of the ocean, and you see a god of the sea. Good thing I got you to fall for me.”

  “I’m just describing what I see.”

  Scooping her up in his arms, he held her against him tightly. He often thought if he could fuse their bodies together, then he would completely happy. When she relaxed against him, her hand went up to his face as he kissed her. What started out as a gesture of affection slowly turned into something that caught fire. They stood at the shoreline with the water lapping at their feet, the sun warming their bodies, and the wind blowing across their skin as the truth became evident to Chris about the blessing that had been bestowed upon him. All those years in combat had resulted in this moment. He was being rewarded with the best woman in the world, and he was going to ask her tonight…ask her to make his dreams come true. “Do you want to go out again?”

  “Sure. Honey, am I actually surfing?”

  “Well, maybe not in the technical sense. But it’s close enough.”

  “Birdie told me that she’s been trying to do it for a year, and it seems that she and Mark are doing the same thing we’re doing. She said he paddles them out and then pushes her into the surf. She said she stood up one time for at least thirty seconds. Do you think I’ll eventually be able to do that?”

  “I’m sure you will. We can keep doing it until you can stand up.”

  “I think the only reason this is happening at all is because you’re SEALs. Who else would be willing to do this?”

  “Any waterman would do it for a woman he loves. It’s not that big a deal.”

  Touching his cheek, she kissed his chest. “Yes, it is.” She followed him out to the water and lay down on the board. “Maybe I can get up on my knees this time.”

  “Let’s give it a try,” Chris said.

  ***

  Chris stood over Rachel and dripped water on her as he stared at her and admired her red bikini. She was fast asleep and was snoring. They’d spent a couple of hours “surfing,” and she’d finally had enough and had come up to the house for a nap. She lay on one of the lounge chairs by their pool, and he fell deeper in love as he watched her. She finally opened an eye as the water dripped on her body and he blocked out the sun. He said, “Hi, honey.”

  She closed her eyes, rolled over, and waved her hand at him. Then she tucked her hand under her cheek and tried to ignore him.

  He shook his hair, and she yelped as the water hit her body. He lay next to her on the lounge and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Chris Ellis. You’re going to pay for that.”

  “Honey, just give it a minute, and it will feel really good. Your skin is hot, and I’m cooling you off.” He ran his hands up and down her legs, and she finally relaxed against him. “See, it feels pretty good.”

  “Are you talking about what is pushing into my back? Or are you talking about having you wrapped around me?”

  “Either…both. You feel good to me.” He slipped his hand into her bikini top and ran it over her breast and sighed into her ear.

  “Mmmm. That feels pretty good.” She heard the rip of Velcro as he slipped off his trunks. She looked over her shoulder and saw a smile filled with love, desire, and something that she didn’t quite recognize. “What are we going to try next?”

  Slipping his hand into her bottoms, he slid them down her legs and gave her a smile. “We’ve done this before. I thought we could try it al fresco.” He lifted her leg on top of his and fitted himself against her back. His arm went over her middle, and his finger slipped around her folds. “Let me see how you feel about my idea.” He ran his fingers around and then slipped one deep inside her and felt her shudder. “Yep, you seem to like it.” He kissed her neck and pushed his hips forward until he was completely enveloped in the woman he loved. Her behind pushed against him in response. Yeah, she definitely was on board with it.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  “I’m not going to wake up.” She tried to swat at his hand so he would leave her alone. “You wrung me out today, and I’m not moving.”

  “Honey, we have dinner reservations.” He sat down next to her on the lounge and ran his hand up and down her back. “Open your pretty eyes. I made you a drink, and I’ve included some pineapple and an umbrella.” He watched her open one eye and smiled. “We have reservations at the Beach House tonight. I’m giving you plenty of time to get up and have a shower.”

  She pushed herself off the lounge and sat up. Shoving her hair out of her face, she took the drink from his hand. Taking a sip, she felt the cool liquid run down her throat as she studied Chris’s smile. “It’s going to take me that long just to get my hair under control. This humidity does nothing for my curls except make them bigger.”

  Running his hand down her face, he winked. “I like your curls. They make you look wild and wanton, just the way I like you.”

  “I have been wanton lately. I swim, eat, lie in the sun, and have at you as often as I can. Definitely wanton.”

  Slipping a finger inside the back of her suit, he said, “Speaking of getting at one another…”

  She popped out of her chair and slipped beyond his reach. “Nope, not going to happen. I’m going to transform myself into something fabulous.” She took a sip of her drink. “How much time do I have?”

  “Two hours. That’s more than enough time for wanton and fabulous.”

  “No, it’s not. And tonight I pick fabulous.” She waved to him as she entered the house.

  He took his beer, stepped into the pool, and went over his plan for the evening. It had to be perfect because he wanted her to say yes.

  ***

  Chris sat on the sofa and watched a game on TV. His brother’s team was still in the running, and he wanted to keep up. He heard heels click on the tile floor, turned around, and smiled at the woman who’d stolen his heart. “Hi, beautiful. Are you ready to go?” He stood up, waited for her come over, and felt that all of his future happiness depended on the outcome of this evening.

  “I’m as ready as I can be. This is the best I can do with my hair given the circumstances. It has a mind of its own, and right now, this is the truce that we’ve come to.”

  Wrapping his arm around her, he dipped his head and kissed her cheek. “I think it’s perfect.” He buried his nose in her hair and enjoyed the smell. Nothing in the world smelled better than Rachel Miller, and that would always be the truth for him. “The restaurant is close, so we can walk.” He looked down at her sandals and wondered if she could make it. “It’s not far, but do you want to change your shoes?”

  “I’m fine. The shoes are my pretty ponies, and they are the point of the whole outfit.”

  “What are pretty ponies?”

  “Pretty ponies are your most fabulous pair of shoes. They are ornamental and fierce. They also have the power to change your attitude and quite possibly your life. They are the shoes you wear when you are staring down an ex-boyfriend, taking over a company, or merely facing your future mother-in-law. Every woman understands the power of a pair of pretty ponies, and if she’s smart, she has several pairs in her closet. These are my tropical pretty ponies.” She put her leg out and twisted her foot around so he could admire and appreciate the shoe. “I bought them on our last trip to the mall. I’m surprised that you don’t remember them.”

  “Did you buy them after we went to Victoria’s Secret?”

  “I might have. Why?”

  “Anything that happened after we left that store is a complete blur. All I could do after we left was breathe and do calculations for dives in the arctic. I was counting the seconds until we could leave and go home.”

  “I didn’t even put anything on that I bought when we got home. In fact, I don’t think we made it to the bedroom that day.”

  “Exactly. There was no way I was going to remember a pair of shoes you bough
t.”

  She took his hand as they walked out the door and made their way down the street. “I’m getting the picture. You seem a lot more relaxed since we’ve gotten here. Maybe my effect on you is wearing off.”

  “No, it’s not. We are just together enough that my brain is starting to function on a somewhat normal level. Rach, my need for you is bigger than anything I understand. I’m not just talking about in the physical sense. I have this crazy need to get as close to you as I can and hold on as tightly as I can. I know it sounds crazy, and I understand if it’s too much for you.”

  She squeezed his hand and smiled up at him. “I don’t know, Chris. It doesn’t seem like too much to me. I haven’t been able to function very well without you around since I was abducted. What happens if I never get comfortable without having you near? Then you’re stuck with me, and it might get old pretty quickly.”

  He tugged her hand and made her stop next to the side of the road. “I’m never stuck with you. What’s going to happen when you don’t need me?”

  “That will never happen. After all, I’ve put serious training into you so that you can come to the mall with me. That’s not something I would do with just anyone. You had your first Cinnabon last month. We’re ready to graduate to the next level. I think we could have a corn dog next.”

  “I thought that was reserved for married people.”

  “We will just fake it, then.”

  He smiled into her eyes and knew that there was going to be no faking necessary. They turned the corner, and the restaurant sat on a small bluff overlooking the ocean. It was the most perfect location and was a ten-minute walk from their house. “This is rated one of the most romantic restaurants in the US. It seems like it’s going to live up to its reputation.”

  “Wow, I’m glad I wore these shoes. I’d hate to have this experience in the wrong ones.” She followed him along the path. They entered the restaurant and were soon led to a table on the patio that had a view of the water. They were close enough to see the waves crash against the rock.

  “This is the second part of your birthday celebration. I wanted us to have this memory to go along with all of the other ones that we’re collecting on this trip.” He leaned over, caught her lips and pressed his mouth against hers in a silent prayer. He felt her respond as she pressed against his and smiled. They were interrupted by the waitress as she stepped up to their table.